13 February 2013
The building of Sevastopol city (South Ukraine) Economic Court was picketed by the union of entrepreneurs from a small village Razdolnoye. Members of Confederation of Free Trade Unions of Ukraine (KVPU) came out to support their colleague, who is litigating his rights in court against the administration of the local market.
Entrepreneurs say that the communal enterprise does not perform its obligations, and allegedly not accounted for the money collected from the traders and also refused to sign official agreements.
The Co-organiser of the protest action Ms. Tatiana Velichko said that due to unfair court decisions in 2010 she had to terminate her entrepreneurship activity. "The courts take the side of the communal enterprises closing their eyes to the facts and documents. Corruption is flourishing everywhere"- concludes Tatiana Velichko.
"From 2008 to 2009 we were paying to the communal enterprise, but it was unofficially. We demanded to justify the tariffs and properly perform assigned functions as well as to conclude formal agreements with us. Almost every entrepreneur supports us, but people are intimidated and afraid to be left without jobs which officials actually resell through corrupt practices "- informed the picketers.
The market in Razdelnoye village was under threat to be closed still in 2004. However, the entrepreneurs then defended their jobs in the court. After that, in 2008 allegedly the construction works had to be carried out. "For refusing to leave the working place in market the entrepreneurs were punished with additional penalties.
The picket finished after a meeting at the court, which postponed the consideration of the case to February 24, 2013.
